Justin Herbert tosses 2 TDs, Geno Smith throws 3 INTs as Chargers ruin Raiders HC Pete Carroll's birthday
Updating Live(26)See New PostsPinnedLink copiedChargers don't want to close the door on the RaidersRookie running back Omarion Hamption gets stripped by Raiders Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby, and the Raiders are still alive with 3:51 left to play. Los Angeles is doing their best to give away their 20-9 lead.PinnedLink copiedSmith sacked again for turnover on downsGeno Smith just couldn't make the plays when the Raiders needed it most against the 2024 season's No. 1 scoring defense. He was sacked by linebacker Daiyan Henley on fourth down to force the turnover on downs.PinnedLink copiedGeno Smith's third interception should just about seal the victory for the ChargersSmith attempted to thread the football into a tight window to wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, but Chargers Pro Bowl safety Derwin James had other ideas. He batted the football away, and Los Angeles cornerback Donte Jackson was ready and waiting to catch the rebound for Smith's third interception. That should be game over in Las Vegas with the Chargers up 20-9 with 5:57 left to play.PinnedLink copiedChargers shift to go for it on fourth down backfiresLos Angeles head coach Jim Harbaugh was too timid near the goal line on their last drive, so he attempted to make amends by going for it on fourth-and-1 at the 50. Unfortunately for the Chargers, quarterback Justin Herbert fumbled the exchange with wide receiver Derius Davis, and Los Angeles turns the ball over on downs. They maintain a 20-9 lead with just over eight minutes left to play.PinnedLink copiedRaiders chew up nearly a quarter's worth of game time to come away with just three pointsLas Vegas possessed the football for 11:15 and marched 16 yards down the field in 18 plays. However, a holding penalty derailed their promising drive, so they settled for a 37-yard field goal. Down 11, 20-9 with 11:15 left in the game, the Raiders have an uphill climb.PinnedLink copiedChargers go conservative, settle for 20-yard field goalMid 3Q: Chargers 20, Raiders 6Surprisingly, Los Angeles decided to take the football out of the hands of quarterback Justin Herbert near the goal line. Rookie running back Omarion Hampton gained just three yards on three carries, which got Los Angeles down to the 2-yard line. Getting that close, the analytics likely would say it's worth going for it. Instead, Harbaugh got conservative and went for the 14-yard point lead via a 20-yard field goal.PinnedLink copiedGeno Smith's ill-advised heave into double coverage gets interceptedGeno Smith appeared to say YOLO as he threw the football into double coverage on the doorstep of the end zone to rookie wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. It didn't work. Chargers safety Tony Jefferson easily undercut the football to intercept Smith at the one. Chargers stay in front 17-6 just before halftime.PinnedLink copiedHerbert's mind meld with Johnston continuesLate 2Q: Chargers 17, Raiders 6Former first-round wide receiver Quentin Johnston was a deep-ball menace in his time at TCU, and he showcased why just now. Johnston, who is 6-foot-2, turned on the afterburners on a vertical route, and Herbert dropped a dime to his deep threat for an effortless 60-yard touchdown. Los Angeles now leads Las Vegas, 17-6, with just under two minutes remaining in the half.PinnedLink copiedChargers' Khalil Mack (elbow) in a sling and ruled outMack will not return to action tonight.PinnedLink copiedRaiders offensive short circuits on third down again, forced to settle for another field goalLas Vegas hasn't been able to protect quarterback Geno Smith on key third downs. Both of the most critical third downs for the Raiders tonight have ended with sacks of quarterback Geno Smith. Daniel Carlson's 40-yard field goal, trims the Chargers' lead to four, 10-6, with 9:54 left to play in the half.PinnedLink copiedChargers star Khalil Mack (elbow) questionable to returnMack is going to get an X-ray right now, according to ESPN's broadcast.PinnedLink copiedKeenan Allen showcases veteran savvy with toe drag TDAllen easily got both feet down despite limited real estate in the back corner of the end zone.PinnedLink copiedJustin Herbert finds old reliable Keenan Allen to regain the leadEnd 1Q: Chargers 10, Raiders 3Herbert is able to escape the pocket to hit veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen for a 10-yard touchdown because of rookie running back Omarion Hampton's blocking. Hampton stonewalled Raiders linebacker Devin White multiple times on the scoring strike as Herbert rolled out to the right to hit a streaking Allen in the back right corner of the end zone. Los Angeles leads 10-3 with 20 seconds left in the first quarter.PinnedLink copiedDicker becomes most accurate kicker in NFL historyDicker hit his 94th career field goal to open up the scoring on "Monday Night Football." The 38-yard make by Dicker represented his 94th made field goal in 100 career attempts, and that's huge because 100 career attempts is enough to qualify him for the all-time field goal percentage leaderboard. Dicker (94%) is now the new No. 1 ahead of Baltimore Ravens legend Justin Tucker (89.1%).PinnedLink copiedRaiders answer with long FG, still waiting to get All-Pro TE involvedMid 1Q: Raiders 3, Chargers 3Two drives have come and gone for Las Vegas without a target for 2024 first-team All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers. Quarterback Geno Smith may not be fully trusting in Bowers' knee after the tight end only practiced once this week: in a limited fashion on Saturday.Smith took a 10-yard sack at the hands of former Raiders superstar Khalil Mack on third-and-7. That's why Las Vegas settled for a tie via a 54-yard field goal.PinnedLink copiedChargers settle for short FG after turnoverEarly 1Q: Chargers 3, Raiders 0A five-yard gain to wide receiver Ladd McConkey was sandwiched in between two incompletions by quarterback Justin Herbert on Los Angeles' opening drive following the takeaway. That certainly takes a little air out of the Chargers' sails, but they're still able to take an early 3-0 lead.PinnedLink copiedGeno's prime-time struggles continue IMMEDIATELYSmith didn't see Chargers safety Alohi Gilman lurking in zone coverage when he attempted to rifle a throw in tight to wide receiver Tre Tucker, and Los Angeles capitalized on that error. Gilman batted the football into the air, and Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley intercepted the football. Los Angeles takes over at the Raiders' 25 for their first drive of the night. Smith entered Monday night with a 4-12 record in 16 primetime starts.PinnedLink copiedChargers defer to the second half, Raiders' Geno Smith-led offense takes the field firstPinnedLink copiedRaiders rookie RB Ashton Jeanty looks to find end zone for second straight game to begin careerJeanty became the sixth Raider since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger with a rushing touchdown in his first career game and the first to do so since Pro Bowler Josh Jacobs in 2019.Raiders with rush TD in first career GameSince 1970 MergerSeasonAshton Jeanty 2025Josh Jacobs 2019Jalen Ricard 2016Napoleon Kaufman 1995Greg Robinson 1993Marcus Allen 1982PinnedLink copiedNew Raiders QB Geno Smith looks to buck trend of primetime strugglesGeno Smith is 4-12 in his career as an NFL starting quarterback in primetime games, the fourth-worst record by a starting quarterback in primetime in the 21st century, minimum 15 starts. He is coming off a solid performance in the team's Week 1 win at the New England Patriots, which was an afternoon game: 362 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception on 24 of 34 passing.Worst Primetime Record by Starting QBSince 2000W-LWin PctDaniel Jones 1-15 .063Andy Dalton 6-21 .222Kerry Collins 5-16 .238Geno Smith 4-12 .250> Minimum 15 startsPinnedLink copiedChargers QB Justin Herbert looks to stay hotHerbert threw for 318 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in Los Angeles' 27-21 Week 1 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil. Much of that production came against Chiefs four-time Super Bowl champion defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's vaunted blitz. Herbert's 173 yards passing against the blitz were the second-most passing yards against the Chiefs' blitz under Spags. He also became the first quarterback to be blitzed 15 or more times and average 10 or more yards per dropback against the Spagnuolo blitz.PinnedLink copiedChargers look to continue dominance vs. Raiders against Geno Smith, Pete Carroll-led squadThe Chargers won both games against the Raiders in 2024 by double digits and have won three of the last four against Las Vegas. Los Angeles has also won three consecutive "Monday Night Football" games vs. Las Vegas. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will also look to continue his success against one of his AFC West rivals.Justin Herbert Career vs RaidersW-L 6-3Pass YPG 279.6Total TD-INT 21-2Passer Rating 101.4PinnedLink copiedWhich team will start 2-0?The Chargers are looking to start 2-0 for the second straight season and both years under Jim Harbaugh. The Raiders are looking to go 2-0 for the first time since the 2021 season, the last year Las Vegas made the playoffs.PinnedLink copiedInactives: Brock Bowers good to goPinnedLink copiedPete Carroll becomes first coach in NFL history to coach a game at 74 with birthday todayCarroll will become the first head coach to coach an NFL game at the age of 74 when the Chargers and Raiders square off in Las Vegas.PinnedLink copiedJim Harbaugh, Pete Carroll rivalry reignitedMonday night marks the first meeting between Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll since 2014 when they were the head coaches of the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks respectively. The two are 6-6 against each other including their battles in the Pac-10 at Stanford and USC, but Carroll has the NFL edge at 5-4. Carroll has won the five of the last six meetings, including the playoffs.Jim Harbaugh-Pete Carroll Head-to-Head CareerCollege (Stanford vs USC)Stanford led series 2-1Notable meeting: Stanford won 23-20 as 40.5-pt underdog in 2007 (largest upset in FBS matchup in past 30 years)NFL (49ers vs Seahawks)Seahawks led series 5-4Notable meeting: Seahawks won 2013 NFC Championship game (won 23-17 after trailing 17-13 entering 4th quarter)
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